Karen Novak Swalwell is President of Francis & Associates, a Retained Executive Search firm focusing on senior level recruiting. Francis & Associates was established in 1983 by Dwaine and Kay Francis and Karen joined Francis & Associates full time in 1987. F&A’s clients range from start up, non-profit, and venture capital groups to Fortune 100 companies serving a wide range of industries and functions.
Karen currently serves a Trustee for the West Des Moines Water Works and is a member of the Board of Directors for the West Des Moines Development Corporation. In addition, she also currently sits on the Variety – The Children’s Charity Board of Directors. Past board involvements include serving as the President of the West Des Moines Chamber, Co-Chair of the WDM Chamber’s Economic & Community Development Committee and the West Des Moines Community Education Advisory Council. She also served on the City of West Des Moines’ Capital Improvement Planning Committee for several years.
Karen was born and raised in Iowa and completed her high school education in Urbandale. She attended the University of Iowa where she earned her degree in Liberal Arts. Karen is married to Rick Swalwell and has two step-daughters: Katy Swalwell, who is pursuing her PhD in Education at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and Abbey Henderson who lives in Naperville, IL with her husband Eric where she manages a real estate office. Karen and Rick enjoy traveling abroad and sailing. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, cycling, gardening, golfing and cruising in her 1963 Chevy Nova Super Sport Convertible.
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